Barge and barge coupling



BARGE AND BARGE COUPLING s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1944 Inventor NW. 18, 1947. w, HARRISON 2,431,039

' 'BARGE AND BARGEVCOUPLING v Filed D80. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q g Q entor v l zllmm/ /brrzsoz' WWW FM NOV. 18, 1 947. w so 2,431,039

BARGB AND BARGE COUPLING Filed Dec. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lnveniolr i /fiam flan 190m Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARGE AND BARGE COUPLING William H. Harrison, Reeds Mill, Ohio Application December 7, 1944, Serial No. 567,075

9 Claims.

This invention relates to barge construction and couplings and has for its object to provide means whereby a fleet of barges may be rapidly aligned and linked together to form a single rigidly connected unit,

Another object of the invention is to provide a barge coupling means so constructed that as to allow play in starting the connection between a pair of barges and automatic means whereby the connection becomes rigid and play eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of vertically disposed opposing female coupling members and means whereby they may be' connected when on diiferent vertical planes in order that loaded barges and empty barges may be as readily coupled as two loaded or two unloaded barges.

A still further object of the invention is to provide barges with opposing female coupling members and independent male connections therefor so arranged as to automatically align and rigidly couple the separate barges to transform them into a single unit, while allowing free movement of the barges up and down under different loads and as waves or swells in the water strike the different barges in a fleet or string of coupled barges.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention and its relative juxtapositioning on the respective prows of a loaded and unloaded barge assembly,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the barge coupling media,

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the end of a barge, and of the reception coupling structure therefor,

Figure 4 is a face elevation of the reception coupling unit for disposition on one of the ends of a barge,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the channeled reception member of the coupling disposed on line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of one of the reception members of the coupling components,

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1--'! of Figure 4 showing one of the hull-supporting braces therefor,

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of said supporting brace,

Figure 9 is a perspective detail View of one of the fulcrumed locking dogs of the coupling media,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the male member of the coupling head,

Figure -11 is a side elevation of said coupling head, and

Figure 12 is a face elevational view of said male coupling head member showing the serrated reception means for the fulcrumed locking dog aligning means therefor.

In the accompanying drawings as above enumerated and in the following specification, like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout and in which [5, indicates my invention embracing a loaded barge l6, and an unloaded barge l'!, which barges are shown rigidly connected and aligned by couplings l8 and I9. Each of these couplings are identically formed and each consists of vertically disposed female channel members20, set into the channel 2!, of the head log 22, of the barge, and flush with the vertical and horizontal surfaces 23 and 24, of said head. The members 25, extend down to the bottom part of the barge and are braced to the rake 25, thereof by Y-shaped braces 26, the tails or shanks 21 of which form bolts adapted to project through bores 28, in the rear wall 29, of the member 20, and are screw-threaded to receive the nut 30, whereby said members 20 and 2B, are securely connected. The arms 3! and 32, of the member 26, terminate in integral plates 33 and 34, shaped to the contour of said rake 25. The side walls 35 and 36, of the member 20, are provided with opposing channels 31 and 38, extending substantially throughout the length thereof or to the bottom wall 39, the purposes of which will presently be explained, The head 40, of member 20, is provided with a rearward exten sion 4| the side walls 42 and 43, of which are provided with inwardly extending flanges 44 and 45, which are narrow at their upper ends and widen out at the lower ends 46 and 41, forming a key-shaped passage 48, therebetween. The rear wall 48, is relatively shorter than walls 42 and 43, to provide working space for a series of fulcrumed dogs 49, pivotally disposed upon a rod 50, mounted in bearings 5! and 52, which are extensions from the rear ends of the walls 42 and 43. Said dogs are provided with bearings 54, carrying lever handles 55.

56, is a male coupling member which consists of a vertical plate 51, having an enlarged end 58, provided with an integral, inclined cross head 59, having aracked face 66. The rear or tail end 6!, of member 51, is provided with a vertically disposed cross plate 62, of a width to fit into the channels 3'! and 38; the lower edges 63 and 64, are slightly beveled inwardly in order to drop readily into said channels, and gradually fitting the plate snugly thereinto. A link 65, is provided on the upper edge 65, of the 'plate to which a chain (not shown) may be connected and secured to the log 22, to prevent loss of said member 58, and a hand-hold 6'1, is provided on the upper edge 68, of member 59, whereby the device may be easily handled.

In operation, when the barges i6 and I! are heeled to one another as clearly indicated in Figure 2, the inclined wings 69 and 10, of member 56, are seated upon the inclines of the members 44 and 45, of either female member 20 or 20, and the plate 52,.s1ipped into the groove 31 and 38, of the opposite member. The :member $2, because of its beveled lower edges will slip easily into said channels or grooves and slip down by gravity, truly aligning the barges as the widened upper portion of said member comes into the channels, thus bringing the barges into perfect alignment, At the same time the wings '69 and Hi will slide down the inclines 7 I and t2, drawing the barges into abuttin relation, as also clearly indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. And as said member 59, slides into place the fulcruming 'dogs d9, through gravity, will slip 'down over the serrated racks fill permitting the vertical movement or play of the barges relative to one another and when the member 55, has reached its seat upon the horizontal surface 13, of the head till, the said barges will have been securely locked together as :a "unit. When it is 'desired to uncouplethe barges, a pipe ofsufficient length and diameter is slipped over the handles :55, 'of the dogs and used as extended levers to release said dogs from 'contact with the male coupling head member 59, whereupon said member 56, may be readily disengaged from the channeled reception coupling means :of the compo- .nent structure.

It is obvious that the member 56, may be reversed from its position indicated i Figure '2, as it will operate equally :as well in either position.

The usual procedure :in coupling barges is first to take a long 1 /2 rope and run it back and forth several times between the timber heads 'a of one barge and b of another barge, in order to hold the barges together until they can be lined up. After this lining, by use of a pinch bar or other means a cable is attached to the timber heads and the ends thereof connected to a ratchet and tightened up, pulling the barges together. This process requires considerable time and labor and hard work making it an expensive job, all of which I eliminate with my 'coupling means.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a. more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention that which I claim as new and desire to procure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to be mounted in the ends of the barges with openings facing said ends and inwardly extending side portions, and couplings reversably engageable in said channels and comprising vertical plate portions to extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said inwardly extending port1ons to couple said barges together for relative verttical movement and at different levels in the we er,

2. In a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to be mounted in the ends of the barges 4 engageable in said channels and comprising vertical plate portions to' extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said-inwardly extending portions ;to couple said barges together for relative vertical movement and at different levels in the water, said coupling members being reversable in position in the channels.

3. In .a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to bemounted in the ends of the barges with openings facing said ends and inwardly extending 'side portions, and couplings reversably engageable in said channels and comprising vertical plate portions to extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said inwardly extending portions .to couple said barges together for relative vertical movement and at different levels in the water, and means in the channels and cooperating with the coupling members to adjustably lock the'co-upling members 'in the channels.

4. a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to be mounted "in the ends of the barges with openings facing said ends and inwardly extending side portions, and couplings reversably engageable in said channels and comprising vertical plate portions to "extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said inwardly extending porti s to ple said bar es together for relative vertical movement and at dilie'rent levels in the water, said channels and coupling members having cooperating inclined portions slanting away from the open sides of the channels and adapted when the coupling members are imposition, to draw the channels and barges together when coupled.

'5. In a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to be mounted in the 'ends of the barges with openings facing said ends and inwardly extending side portions, and couplings reversably engageable in "said channels and "comprising vertical plate portions to extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said inwardly extending portions to couple said barges together for relative vertical movement and at different levels in the water, said channels having inwardly offset portions adapted to receive the coupling members thereon and cooperating inclined faces on the channels and coupling members 'to draw the coupling members and barges together when coupled, and means for locking the coupling members in position in the channels.

6. In a coupling for barges, vertical channels adapted to be mounted in the ends of the barges with openings facing said ends and inwardly extending side portions, and couplings reversably engageable in said channels and comprising vertical plate portions to extend through the openings and having cross plates at the ends thereof to engage behind said inwardly extending portions to couple said barges together for relative vertical movement and at different levels in the water, said channels having inwardly offset portions adapted to receive the coupling members thereon and cooperating inclined faces on the channels and coupling members to draw the coupling members and barges together when coupled, one of the cross plates of each coupling member having serrations, and locking dogs pivoted to the channels for engaging the serrations to permit relative vertical movement of the channels and barges relative to one another in proper position in the water.

7. In a coupling means for barges, vertical channel members mounted in the ends of the barges in spaced relation and having opposed grooves in the sides thereof, said channels being closed at the bottom and having rearwardly offset upper portions each provided with opposed inclined surfaces sloping downwardly and rearwardly, coupling members comprising vertical plates having a vertical cross head at one end and an inclined cross head at the other end, said vertical cross head adapted to engage the grooves of either of the opposed channels when in alignment and the inclined cross head adapted to extend into the offset portion and engage behind the inclined surfaces of either channel whereby to draw the couplings, the channels and barges together when the coupling is in position.

8. In a coupling means for barges, vertical channel members mounted in the ends of the barges in spaced relation and having opposed grooves in the sides thereof, said channels being closed at the bottom and having rearwardly offset upper portions each provided with opposed inclined surfaces sloping downwardly and rearwardly, coupling members comprising vertical plates having a vertical cross head at one end and an inclined cross head at the other end, said vertical cross head adapted to engage the grooves of either of the opposed channels when in alignment and the inclined cross head adapted to extend into the offset portion and engage be hind the inclined surfaces 'of either channel whereby to permit relative vertical movement of the channels and barges when coupled, said inclined cross member and inclined surfaces designed to draw the channels and barges together when the coupling is in position and permit relative movement thereof vertically in the water at difierent levels and under different loads, and

position and against vertical displacement.

9. In a coupling means for barges, vertical channel members mounted in the ends of the barges in spaced relation and having opposed grooves in the sides thereof, said channels being closed at the bottom and having rearwardly 01T- set upper portions each provided with opposed inclined surfaces sloping downwardly and rearwardly, coupling members comprising vertical plates having a vertical cross head at one end and an inclined cross head at the other end, said vertical cross head adapted to engage the grooves of either of the opposed channels when in alignment and the inclined cross head adapted to extend into the offset portion and engage behind the inclined surfaces of either channel whereby to permit relative vertical movement of the channels and barges when coupled, said inclined cross member and inclined surfaces designed to draw the channels and barges together when the coupling is in position and permit relative movement thereof vertically in the water at different levels and under different loads, said inclined cross plates having horizontal serrations, and a plurality of lock dogs pivoted at the top of the channels therebehind, to automatically engage the serrations and retain the coupling member in position as the channel members and barges move up and down relative to each other.

WILLIAM H. HARRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 139,091 Larr Sept. 15, 1903 1,266,362 Wells May 14, 1918 2,328,693 Taylor Sept. 7, 1943 2,369,615 Smith Feb. 13, 1945 

